The Completely True Adventures & Lamentations of OctoGal & OctoPup in Highlands

Happy New Year with Challenge Results

First, let me apologize for being MIA. Prior to Christmas, work really kicked into high gear and just as the holiday approached I contracted what I am lovingly referring to as “The Iron Lung Cold.” I was knocked out on Christmas Eve and I am still best friends with Robitussin. I haven’t even played with all my Christmas goodies…YET. I want to thank everyone who took the time to email me. I was so knocked out I only had energy to read…so if you emailed…Yes I am fine. Your thoughts went a long way to speeding my recovery.

I did take time yesterday to follow KD’s lead and join a photography workshop class. I am doing a live “in person” class through the Visual Arts Center of New Jersey. I have been frightened to have in person critiques of my photos…so this will be great for me. I will keep you posted.

Now, on to what you all have been waiting for; Light Reflected December Challenge.

Ann from Montana joined our merry crew this month…Welcome AFM!

Ann chose a “theme” for reflected light, Alpenglow

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decchallengealpenglo7004672

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First let me say, Ann From Montana…what spectacular views you have! Second…thanks for learning us such a cool term.

Third, WOWZA, these are stunning images. What processing do you do?

Next up, Karmardav!

Shiny Star

Reflected Sunlight in the Moon

The Famous Family Disco Ball

And Candlelight

Karmardav, nice spectrum of reflected light. I would challenge you to avoid centering your subject moving forward. Look for a different angle. In fact, you have just inspired this month’s challenge. More on that in a bit.

Ken in KY brings us the most beautiful Kentucky Moonshine!

moonshine

The texture of this image is so strong, I can almost feel the cold humidity hang in the air. Beautiful.

Renae is next…I need to share this quote from Renae’s submission email with you all.

I think this was THE hardest challenge yet for me. My camera doesn’t comprehend indoors and/or low light situations so I had to get creative. I deleted an assload of shots, but as always, it was fun and a learning experience!

Way to stretch and learn from the “ass load” of deleted photos. These are terrific, not just for capturing the challenge, but also in composition. The clarity of M&M is startling, but I admit the garland lights are my favorite with an abstract appeal.

Stphoto brings us as he puts it a literal translation…

This is the kind of water shots I had for the first 5 days in the parks. I like it even with the ripply water. It’s a little soft as I was hand holding for this photo.

While attending the Osborne Christmas light display, I saw these letters from the lighted sign reflected in the windows.

A very long exposure using a tripod and waiting late into the night gave this shot of the Boardwalk resort area and it’s long reflections in the water.

Finally! On my last night in the Magic Kingdom, the wind died down and I got this photo of Cinderella Castle in “ice” lights reflected in the “moat”. You can see the base of the castle in the upper part of the photo.

Dang, Stphoto, I am NOT worthy. This is stunning work. See this is why I am taking a class.

Lastly, I bring you to ladies who not only reflect light, but are embraced but lighting glow from my tree.

Great work everyone!

Now, onto this month’s challenge, inspired by Karmardav!

Demonstrate “Rule of Thirds“. Due January 28th. Good luck and have fun!

shrewspeaks

January 2, 2009

Shutter Challenge

10 responses to “Happy New Year with Challenge Results”

Ann from Montana

January 2, 2009 at 1:12 pm

Wow – all fantastic shots! I am partial to the Disneyland Castle (right side up) – and the light on the water – just for the fantasy that it inspires as well as the color. And the Kentucky moonshine – as you say, you can feel the humidity. Mr. M&M with the bokeh behind I particularly like and the disco ball with the sparkly tree and soft ornaments behind.

Your “ladies” – wonderful – the 2nd would be my pick with the hint of feather things on the edges adding interest to my eye.

My processing: I use Photoshop CS3 – NOT an expert. I try to keep adding things via tutorials.

For the shots I submitted: 1st – moon on the mountains is SOOC. Credit must go first to mother nature and 2nd to IvoryHut and her “shooting the moon” post on PW. Taken with my Rebel XSi, 18-55 kit lens, f/5, 43m focal length, ISO 100, 1/6 shutter. I would never have had a clue to try those settings if not for IvoryHut’s enlightenment!

The second – pink alpenglow – I added a curves layer and pulled the curve down a bit all along. Just a slight boost of color to get it to what I remembered. The pink alpenglow is typical.

The third, the orange – that was an incredible evening. A lot of clouds in the right places and the sky seemed on fire with orange and pink and it is the only time I’ve seen the mountain tops cast orange. I added a Hue/Saturation layer – bumped the master +13 and Green +8 – I was trying to bring out the light cast on the valley tree tops against the orange mountain tops and clouds.

But primarily, with that backdrop, I usually just have to point and shoot.

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karma

January 2, 2009 at 5:13 pm

Welcome back, Shrewbie-doo! I may have inspired your next challenge, but I think I’ll need a bit of schooling to accomplish it. I’ve seen “rule of thirds” in photo-editing software, but what exactly does it mean? I understand what you mean about not centering so much, but what is the rule of thirds?

So many beautiful shots here, it is difficult to choose favorites. St’s Disney shots are awesome. I love Nae’s M&M guy too. The color in Ann’s mountains are just beautiful. Shrew’s ladies show a certain love of precious family ornaments.

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Scott Thomas Photography

January 2, 2009 at 6:20 pm

The Rule of Thirds is explained in Shrew’s link but lacks a good graphic. I wrought about this rule in the Disney blog I contribute to here: http://land.allears.net/blogs/photoblog/2007/11/photographic_innoventions_rule.html

I hope it helps to explain it better, Karma. BTW, your photos are excellent. Remember, you can crop existing photos to meet the rule of thirds…just remember, rules in photography are more like guidelines. 🙂

Ann…sigh, thouse mountain photos are gorgeous!!! I’ve heard of Aspenglow and your photos capture it perfectly.

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kanniduba

January 2, 2009 at 6:43 pm

Shrew, I’m so excited for you!! Can’t wait to hear all about it! 🙂
And sorry I missed the challenge deadline. 😦 I DID keep the challenge in mind, and played with some shots, but then time got away from me with the holidays. But I’m looking forward to the next challenge!!! The Rule of Thirds makes total sense to me…I find my eye is drawn to photos which are balanced, but not symmetrical or centered. Now I know why! Looking forward to playing with the idea more deliberately.
Love the photo variety this month, and the different takes on a similar theme! Scott already knows how much I adore his castle shots…they make me all “ga-ga.” 😉 And Ann, fabulous views captured fabulously! Ken’s makes me feel all eerie…wonderful! I have a hard time capturing misty scenes…this was beautiful!
And all the ornaments and holiday sparkle and glow from Shrew, Karma, and Renae makes me sad that I have to pack all my holiday away for another year. Shrew, I love the lighting in your two shots.

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karma

January 2, 2009 at 7:00 pm

Gee I didn’t even notice “rule of thirds” was a hyperlink! Thanks for point that out ST – and I’ll be sure to look at your link too.

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karma

January 2, 2009 at 7:08 pm

Back again! I just read the links. Very helpful information. I also just realized my camera has a feature that allows you to put the lines for the rule of thirds on the LCD screen as you are composing the picture – is that cheating?

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shrewspeaks

January 2, 2009 at 7:25 pm

Karma, NO WAY is that cheating! That is why it’s there. I will troll the nets for more Rule of Thirds stuffs, but thanks Stphoto for your terrific link; a must read.

KD, It was a mixture of lighting…the Christmas lights, but I also used my speedlite with a new toy…a Micro Apollo TM It came as part of the Rick Sammon Location Light Kit my sister gave me for Christmas.

So I ask…did I cheat by creating and diffusing the light reflected?

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Ann from Montana

January 2, 2009 at 7:48 pm

All’s fair in love, war and photography! – Kidding aside, using flash or diffusers, built in light meters, hand held light meters, histograms, a 1/3 line “chart”, the camera’s own digital processor and/or post capture software – it is all a form of artistic representation in my book. Give 2 people the same tools and the same education and they will take “different” photos – not necessarily one better than the other but different. I think it is part of the fun.

I’m fairly sure that if I went out with a film camera, with only manual settings and no helpful internal metering – I would have a lot more under and over exposed photos, not to mention out of focus stuff.

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JenAdams

January 3, 2009 at 11:25 pm

Hey everybody! Happy New Year, and nice to have you back, Shrewbie-doo!! I missed ya. And in fact, I missed the whole challenge. Not that I hadn’t thought of it. Renae suggested at one point that I submit this one:
http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/c_cU-WJ78UwU2U0nH_m-0A?authkey=6d7k6uESnvA&feat=directlink
The light from my flash is reflecting off the snowflakes! But I am not thrilled with the overall photo since Ozzie is out of focus.

Anyway, great job everyone. Love the Disney photos! Gorgeous. Renae, love the M&M, Karen I particualarly like the disco ball ornament. Shrewbie, yours are dreamy!

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Excited, Intimidated, and Downright Uneducated « A Half Hour a Day

January 8, 2009 at 4:02 pm

[…] for that Rule of Thirds. Ever since Shrew posted the next Challenge, I have seen this topic crop up everywhere I look…funny how that happens, isn’t it? […]

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